b.
13 Apr. 1873
at ‘
Sarnicol
’, a cottage near
Rhos-yr-hafod
,
Capel Cynon, Cards.
, the fourth of the five children of
David
Thomas
, an
agricultural labourer
, and his wife
Mary
(née
Jacob
)
. He was registered as
Tom
, the name of the third child of his parents who had died in infancy. His first school was the board school at
Capel Cynon
which was locally known as
Pantygïach and Clawddmelyn
. He became a
pupil-teacher
there, but, following an altercation with his
headmaster
, he left to continue his education at
Talgarreg school
. Being a frail child his parents were advised to send him for a period to
New Quay
where there was a noted grammar school kept by
C.J.
Hughes
. He stayed there for four years taking
Department of Science and Art
examinations. In
1891
he won a
£20 scholarship
at the
University College of Wales
, where he
spent three sessions reading for the
University of London
B.Sc.
degree. In
1894
he left for a
teaching post in mathematics
at the
Hartley Institution
in
Southampton
. In
1896
he obtained a post as
science master
at the
Abergele intermediate school
, where he found a more congenial atmosphere. During his stay at
Abergele
he took his final examination. In
1897
he migrated to the industrial valleys of
south Wales
, holding
science posts
at the following schools:
Merthyr Tydfil
,
1897-1901
,
Abertillery
,
1901-13
,
Cyfarthfa Castle Boys’
,
1913-21
. During his final year at
Cyfarthfa
he took the external
B.A.
degree of
London University
. In
1922
he was appointed first
headmaster
of the
new Quakers Yard grammar school
,
Treharris
, where he remained until his premature retirement owing to illhealth in
Aug. 1931
. The remainder of his life was spent in
Llywel
,
Laura Place
,
Aberystwyth
, where he found kindred spirits interested in literature and etymology with whom he could discuss the subjects which, despite his science training, were nearest to his heart. He d.
2 Dec. 1945
, and was buried at
Bwlch-y-groes (Congl.) chapel cemetery
in his native neighbourhood. His wife survived him.
He won the
chair
at the
Abergavenny national
eisteddfod
in
1913
with his ode ‘
Aelwyd y Cymro
’, and was in competition for the chair in
London
,
1909
,
Colwyn Bay
,
1910
,
Wrexham
,
1912
, and
Birkenhead
,
1917
. His
pryddest
at
Bangor
in
1931
was placed among the first three. He was one of the
adjudicators
of the
awdl
at
Llanelli
,
1930
, and
Bangor
,
1943
. He contributed much in prose and verse to the
Ymofynydd
,
Cymru
,
Y Geninen
, the
Western Mail
,
the London Kelt
,
Y Llenor
,
Y Ford Gron
,
Y Beirniad
,
Y Cymro
, and
The Merthyr Express
, for which he
edited a Welsh column
for many years. Many of his English poems appeared in the
Western Mail
, and he won several prizes for competitions in
John ôlondon
and
T.P's Weekly
. His chief publications were
Ar lan y môr a chaneuon eraill
,
1898
,
Odlau Môr a Mynydd
,
1912
,
Blodau drain duon
,
1935
,
Storïau ar gân
,
1936
,
Catiau cwta
,
1940
, and
Chwedlau cefn gwlad
,
1944
. He had a manuscript volume ‘
Odlau'r aelwyd
’, containing what he considered to be his best poems, ready for publication at the time of his death. The manuscript is at the
National Library of Wales
. He was notable for his skill as an
epigrammatist
and for his description of life and characters on his native heath around
Banc Siôn Cwilt
.
